Those musings were fast and fleeting as Bruce marched over and dropped to his knees in front of Pepper, taking her hands in his as he murmured, "Don't cry; Tony's right, you're too beautiful for that. I'm here for you – both of you – now, and I'm staying."

Those words brought on a fresh wave of her tears even as a smile transformed her face and she threw her arms around him – only for both of them to realize that he'd rushed up here so quickly that he'd forgone putting his shirt back on. The piece of clothing was still folded and waiting for him in the training area, but he was here… alone with his soulmate… who's expression had suddenly turned into something far more suggestive then he would've ever imagined on "professional and put together" Pepper Potts.

So what was a man to do but haul her in for a kiss?

The elevator was just then stopping at Thor's level again, Loki standing inside the contraption, when JARVIS said, "I believe now would be a good time to summon Mr. Stark to Dr. Banner's lab."

"I'll leave that at your discretion, I suppose," Loki mused. "But do you really think it's a good idea already?"

"As I told you last night, a woman's tears are oftentimes quick to move her soulmate."

"I'm glad to hear it," Loki muttered, stepping off of the elevator as he asked, "Who do you think should be next on our list?"

"Your brother," JARVIS suggested. "He should be a simple enough case. He and Dr. Foster are already happy, except for the fact that miles separate them."

"What do you suggest?"

"Ask Mr. Stark if he would permit the doctor and her intern to move into the Tower to live with Thor."

"Wouldn't he accept that request better from you?"

"Oh, absolutely… but it hardly seems fair for me to undertake completion of your punishment any more than I already am."

"I beg your pardon!"

"My advice has played a crucial part in your success."

"So you're making me ask him myself just to prove that you do still hate me," Loki decided.

"I'm making you ask him yourself so that you're earning your own way and getting out of this apartment."

"I just left this apartment!"

"For five entire minutes in three days now. At three days' time I would be forcing Mr. Stark to take care of himself as well."

"I am not your precious little Stark!"

"I truly believe that you have no idea how very similar the two of you are."

"You are an extremely brassy machine – to the point of foolish!"

"Because you know how to dismantle me?" the AI asked, and this time Loki knew he was being taunted.

"Shut up," Loki ordered sourly, stepping back into the elevator. "And take me to Stark."

"I don't think you want that," JARVIS commented. "Mr. Stark has now joined Miss Potts and Dr. Banner on the doctor's lab, and they're finally beginning to sort out how things are between the three of them… I wouldn't suggest attempting to contact him for the next… forty-eight hours."

"Forty-e-!" Loki groaned. "Oh for the love of the Norns!"

"What can I say?" JARVIS asked, obviously still teasing him as he stepped back off the elevator. "It appears that we make a good team, Mr. Odinson."

"Don't call me that; the All-Father is apparently all-but-my-father."

"Speaking of Father," Thor's rumbling, and obviously displeased, voice came from the kitchen doorway and Loki whipped guiltily around to face him – and Sif was here too, apparently! "He needs me back on Asgard."

"Then go," Loki replied, rocking back on his heels and not asking questions.

"He's fallen into the Odin's sleep and requires one of us to rule in his stead until he awakes."

"Already?!"

"He wasn't allowed to rest as much as he ought to have last time," Thor explained. "Due to Laufey's invasion."

"I remember it," Loki drawled. "Then you should go. How long do you predict you'll be away?"

"Mother and Lady Sif predict that he'll awake in the spring of 2014." Thor paused, apparently getting an idea as he turned to Sif and asked, "You said that Mother asked for one of her sons to come home; were those her exact words?"

"Yes," Sif answered slowly, shifting nervously as she glanced at Loki.

"Why?" the trickster asked. "What are you thinking?"

"That I would much prefer to remain here on Midgard and assist in calming this realm after the destruction caused in the city… besides that, Jane is here, and I'm rather fond of the idea that you've come up with concerning her living here."

Loki half expected JARVIS to speak up and correct the thunder god, tell him that he'd come up with the idea, not Loki, but he stayed silent in the walls and Loki asked instead, "What exactly are you thinking, brother?"

"That perhaps you could rule Asgard instead of myself; you do need to reclaim the trust of the people of our home planet, do you not?"

"Thor," Loki groaned at the same time as Sif yelped in alarm, "My lord!"

"For what it's worth, I agree with Thor."

"Now you speak!" Loki snapped at the ceiling.

"Also," JARVIS continued pointedly. "For what it's worth, going in his stead would make Thor and Dr. Foster very happy, don't you think, Loki?"

"I thought you wanted me here to talk to Stark!" Loki shot back, unable to believe that he was arguing with a piece of Midgardian technology – and apparently losing, at that!

"Asgard takes precedence over your personal preferences, Loki," Thor said firmly. "I can talk to Stark myself. I thought you might be interested in the idea of me giving you a chance to redeem yourself in the eyes of our people."

"They are your people," Loki snapped. "I am a Jotun, and I didn't do anything – not of my own volition; I was coerced."

"Then prove it," Thor replied evenly. "Go back to Asgard and rule well these next two years. That will go a long way towards convincing me, Mother, and the people, and when Father awakes – if you've done well – we will speak highly of you for it. Put whatever mission Father gave you to the side for now and prove yourself in this way."

Loki stared for a very long while at the man that he'd grown up with before he muttered, "Very well."